Popular Caribbean sandwich gives a taste of Jamaica

By Linda Gassenheimer
•
Jun 2, 2017 at 7:00 AM

Call it a taco, wrap or roti, these “sandwiches” are very popular. I loved the roti made by Chef Eric Do from the Intercontinental Hotel at Doral in Miami. His Caribbean Roti is filled with curried chicken, potatoes and chickpeas. He says this Indian-style dish has become a staple part of the Jamaican diet. I’ve adapted his recipe for a quick taste of Jamaica.

Roti is a flatbread made from stoneground whole meal flour. In the Caribbean roti may refer to both the flat-bread and the filled wrap served as street food. For this quick version, I used a thin whole wheat wrap found in most supermarkets.

Open a bag of washed, ready-to-eat salad to complete the meal.

Helpful Hints:

— Curry powder sold in supermarkets is a blend of about 15 herbs, spices and seeds. It loses its flavor quickly. If older than 6 months, buy a new one.

Remove visible fat from the chicken and cut into 1/4- to 1/2-inch cubes. Wash potatoes, do not peel and cut into pieces about the same size as the chicken. Set aside. Heat oil a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add the chicken, onion and garlic. Saute 3 minutes, stirring to help chicken brown on all sides. Add the curry powder and paprika. Stir to make sure all ingredients are coated with the spices. Add the chickpeas, potatoes and chicken broth. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover with a lid and simmer 15 minutes. Add a little water if the skillet becomes dry. Add salt to taste. Place the two wraps on a counter and fill with the chicken mixture. Roll up and serve with the salad. Or, serve the filling and wraps separately and each person can fill his own.

(Linda Gassenheimer is the author, most recently, of “Delicious One-Pot Dishes,” featuring 60 recipes designed to be stewed, braised, slow-cooked or steamed, each in a single pot. Additional titles by Gassenheimer include “Quick and Easy Chicken,” “Simply Smoothies: Fresh & Fast Diabetes-Friendly Snacks & Complete Meals,” “Fast and Flavorful: Great Diabetes Meals from Market to Table” and “The Flavors of the Florida Keys.” Her website is dinnerinminutes.com. Follow her on Twitter @lgassenheimer. Email: [email protected])